The Political Junkie offers an outside-looking- in view of the US. Each day, we will highlight news and opinion pieces from around the world that are focused on US politics and policy. Agree or disagree with the opinions you will read but take a few minutes to see yourselves as others see you.

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Friday, September 14, 2012

Calming or inflaming a volitile situation

To Be Presidential, Romney Must First Be Truthful

Here’s what the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, run by the Bush-era
Ambassador Anne Patterson, wrote after mobs gathered outside in
protest against a virulently anti-Muslim film associated with
Koran-burning pastor Terry Jones:

The embassy “condemns the continuing efforts by misguided
individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims -- as we
condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions,” it said.
“We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal
right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.”

This is “disgraceful”? Really?

Read dispassionately, the statement is merely an effort by
prudent diplomats to prevent a riot and bodily harm to
Americans. It is almost identical to what the Bush
administration said in 2006 after cartoons denigrating the
Prophet Mohammad appeared in European newspapers: “We find them
offensive, and we certainly understand why Muslims would find
these images offensive.”

Was that also “akin to apology,” as Romney deemed the
statement from the embassy in Cairo?